Automatic valve-operating means for refrigeration systems



April 20 1926.

G. HILGER AUTOMATIC VALVE OPERATING MEANS VFOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Filed July 2e, 1924 Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

" UNITED STAT Es `rpxrulai OFFICE..

GEORGE' HILGER, OIF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC VALVE-OPERATING MEANS FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS.

Application led July 26, 19211. Serial- No. 728,338.

To all fwzomjt may cof/tecra.' i L Be it known that I, .GEORGE Human, a

j lcitizen of the United- States, residing lat other relatively heavy matter from theanhydrous ammonia or other refrigerant prior to the discharge of the latter into the Gil condenser. Other applications of'my invention will readily occur to those 'skilled in the art.

A special object of the present invention therefore is to provide a valve mechanism which is automatically operable to separate from the refrigerating medium such elements as oil, water and other relatively heavier foreign matter, and to discharge such matter from the system automatically as it accumulates.

A further object is to provide lfor the discharge of the separated matter into a suitable receptacle for purifying it if desired, or in the case of the collection of oil only, to provide for its return to the crank case ofthe compressor.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1.

is an elevational view, patially diagrammatic in character, of a portion of a ref frigeration system embodying my inventlon..

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview through the valve operating mechanism. i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2. r

Referring first to Fig. 1, 5 designates an ammonia compressor 'of the enclosed type embodyinga Vcrank case '6 at its base. 7 is a condenser of usual or preferred construe--4 tion which is connected with the compressor by a discharge line 8. l9 designates .genera'lly the means which I have produced for sepa-rating oil, water and other matter from the refrigerant before it is delivered to the condenser, thismeans being in the form of a trap interposed in the pipe line 8. 10

designates a 'purifier ofa suitable character which is connected with the means 9 by a pipe 11 so as to be capable of receiving the oil, water, etc., `which is separated out from the refrigerant. 12 is a return pipe by which the oil separated out may., when' not mixed with water and objectionable substances, be returned to the crank case 6.

The trap 9 comprises in the present instance a cylinder or casing providing a closed chamber 13. Said casing is uprightly. disposed and constructed at its upper and lower ends to provide heads 14 and 15 forming pressure chambers 14 and 15. Said heads consist of plates 16 and 17 between which and the upper and lower ends of the -cylinder are interposed diaphragms 18 and 19. Between the plate 16 and the upper end of the cylinder is a plate 20'having a downwardly and inwardly projecting head portion 21 providing with the diaphragn'i 18 the closed chamber 14 which is adapted to contain a volatile element such as 'anhydrgus ammonia. To form the chamber 15 at the opposite or lower end of the cylinder the latter has preferably cast therewith an inwardly and upwardly extending dome shaped head portion 22 which is closed by the diaphragm 19.

The upper inwardly projecting head portion 21 has formed integral therewith, at one side thereof, a baille 23, and above said batlie opening into the interior of the cylinder is an inlet port 24 with which the pipe line 8 leading from the compressor communicates. .Onl the opposite side of the cylinder near the upper end thereof is provided an outlet port 25 discharging into the opposite side of the pipe line 8 leading to the condenser. It will be apparent that the anhydrous ammonia or other refrigerantpassing through the inlet port 24 from the pipe line 8 discharges against the inwardly projecting head 21 and the baille 23 depending-therefrom, with the. result- 4that an).1

heavy matter carried in the refrigerant will fall to the lower portion of the-cylinder while the refrigerant continues around the head portion 21 to the outlet port 25.

It will be observed that the inwardly projecting head portion 22 at the lower end of the cylinder forms with the peri heral walll in the cylinder an annular troug in which the matter thus separated out will collect.

Thus the inwardly projecting portion of the head 22 serves the double function of form- .ing the chamber 15 and also the trough 26.

chambers y from the main chamber 13 by valve pipel connections 27 and 28 respectively, the valves in this instance being of a suitable -hand operated type as shown at 29.

Ihe pressure in the chambers 14 and 15 acting upon the diaphragms 18 and 19 respectively is transmitted to levers 30 and 31 at the opposite ends of the cylinder 13, and the levers in turn are operatively connected with a valve generally designated by the numeral 33 interposed in the pipe line 11 leading from the bottom of the annular trough 26 in the main chamber 13. The lever 30 at the upper end of the cylinder is fulcrumed at one endupon a bracket 34 rigid with the cover plate 16, and a pressure member 35 bearing upon the upper tace of the diaphragm 18 has a stem 36 pivotally connected with the lever 30 between its ends. Similarly the lever 31 is fulcrumed on a bracket 37 and is pivotally connected to the stem 38 of a. pressure member 39 engaging the under side of the diaphragm 19. The stems 36 and.38 pass through openings 40 and 41 respectively in the plates 16 and 17.

The valve 33 comprises in the present instance a casing 42 of ordinary `construction having a valve member 43 therein controlling the passage of fluid through the casing. Preferably a coiled expansion spring 44 exerts pressure upon the valve member 43 tending to hold it to its seat, and rigid with the valve member is ax stem 45 mounted in the lower end of a frame 46. The frame is connected with the levers 30 and 31 so as to be movable thereby, the upper end of the frame being connected with the free end of the lever 30 by alink -47 and the lower end of the4 frame having depending lugs 48 pivoted to the lever 31. Saidlever 31 may e extended somewhat beyond its pivotal connection with the frame and provided.

with an adjustable weight 49. is a normally open'hand operated valve interposed between the valve casing 33 in the ipe line 11 and the cylinder, the latter being provided in its`ierip`heral wall with an outlet port 51 which leads from the bottom of the annular trough 26.

In operation, the chambers 14 and 15 having been previously charged with a vola-y tile element such as anhydrous ammonia, the. compressor discharges through the pipe line 8 and the inlet port 24 into the upper portion of the trap against the side of the in wardly projecting head portion 21. The particles of oil, water and other heavy matter are deflected by the downward curvature of the head portion 21 and the baille v 23, so that they fall tothe bottom' of the trap into the annular trough 26 while the lighterrefrigerating medium passes around the projecting head portion 21 and out through the port 25 and the pipe line 4Sinto the condenser 7. The refrigerant thus discharged into the trap is of a substantially constant temperature and so maintains the temperature and pressure of the gas in the upper pressure chamber 14 substantially constant. On the other hand the oil, water, etc., (falling into the trough 26 in the lower end of the trap and accumulating therein exposes to a. gradually decreasing degree the chamber 15 to the head ot the refrigerant, and thus ellects a reduction in the temperature of the volatile element in the pressure chamber 15. The arrangement is such that as the foreign matter accumulates to a predetermined extent, the 'constant pressure in the chamber 14 acting upon the lever 30, will overcome the pressure in the chamber 15 acting upon the lever 31 plus the weight 49 on the lever, with the result that the valve 33 is opened to permit the passage ot' the accumulated fluids into the pipe line 11. In this` connection, it will be observed that t-he interiorof the cylinder 13 forming the trap is constantly under pressure so that when the valve 33 is opened the segregated inatter is forcibly discharged theretln-ough. Moreover, as soon as the collected matter is dscharged suiliciently to expose the interior of the inwardly projecting head portion 22 to the hot gases, the temperature and pressure in the pressure chamber 15 rise to effect a closing of the valve 33.

It will thus be seen that I utilize the accumulation of the foreign substancesl separated out from the refrigerant or other carrying medium to produce a difference in temperature'in the two opposed pressure chambers, and the resulting difference in pressures is utilized to operate the valve. Conversely the discharge of t-he matter separated out results in the restoration of the pressures in the opposed chambers to normal and thus effects ay closing ot the valve. v

It is especially desirable to separate out the oil, which is present in the largest proportion,'and in some instances the presence yof other foreign matter is practically negligible so as to permit of the innnediate reuse of the oil. It is thus practicable, in cases employing compressors of the closed type, wherein the oil is supplied to the crank case, to return the oil separated out directly to the crank case, and this is accomplished in `the present instance by the pipe line 12. rlhe latter connects with the pipe line 11 and communication is controlled by .means of ahand operated valve 52.

To determine when the valve 52 may be operated to connect the pipe line 12 with` the pipe line 11, I provide a sight glass 53 upon the exterior of the trap cylinder which communicates with the main cha1nber`13 in the usual way. This glass, it will he apparent, because of the tendencyp'of Water and is deemed unnecessary to illustrate and describe its construction in detail.

The purifier 10 may be of any preferred or usual construction. In the present instance it consists of a tank 54 into the lower end of Which the pipe line 11 discharges. The upper end of the tank leads by Way of a pipe 55 to the suction or return line 56 of the system which is connected to the inlet side of the compressor. Thus the pres- Sure in the purifier corresponds substantially to the pressure in the return line 56, which being substantially lower than the condenser pressure produces a condition in the purifier l0 such that any portion of the refrigerant which may have passed through the trap 9 to the purifier will be vaporized and drawn off through pipe 55 and returned to the compressor'. The residue may be conveniently drawn oft' through the bottom of the tank through the valved outlet pipe 57. If desired the purifier may be provided With a gaseous fuel burner 58 to assist in the vaporization of the refrigerant; and a sight glass 59 may be provided on the tank 54 to indicate the character and volume of the matter collected in the purifier.-

It will be apparent that I have provided means of an advantageous character for separating one or more elements of a gas or fluid from another7 and while it is contemplated that such means may be capable of general application it is especially of value as applied to a refrigerating system and especially to the separating out from the refrigerating medium of foreign substances which as in the present instance may be capable of reuse so that efficiency of the system as a Whole is increased While the cost of operation is reduced due to the reclamation of the lubricant.y

I claim as my invention:

1. A trap for removing foreign matter from a gaseous system comprising, in combination, av casing having an inlet for the gaseous mixture and outlets for gas and foreign matter, a valve controlling the outlet for foreign matter, means for separating said gas and foreign matterwithin said casing, said casing being adapted to collect the foreign matter, and an element exposed to the foreign matter collecting in said casing aud responsive to the tempera-ture thereof for controlling said valve.

2. In a refrigeration system a trap ada ted to receive the refrigerating medium unc er pressure, means causing the separation of foreign matter from they refrigerating medium, and thermo-responsive means operable automatically upon an accumulation of such foreign mattei' to permit its discharge from the trap.

3. In a refrigeration system a trap adapted to receive the refrigerating medium under pressure, means causing oil and other foreign matter' to separate out from the refrigerating medium, and means opera-ble automatically upon an accumulation of such foreign matter to permit the discharge from the trap comprising a pair of opposed pressure chambers both of which are initially subject to the temperature of the refrigerating medium discharged and one of which vis subject to temperature variation due to the accumulation of the foreign matter separated out.

4. In a refrigeration system a trap adapted to receive the refrigerating-medium under pressure, means causing certain foreign mattei" to separate out from the refrigerating medium, and meansoperable automatically upon an accumulation of such foreign* matter to permit the discharge .from the trap comprising a pair of opposedprcssure chambers both of which are initially subject to the temperature of the refrigerating mediam discharged and one of which is subject to temperature reduction due to the aecumu lation of the foreign matter separated out.

5. In a refrigeration system a trap adapted to receive the refrigerating medium under pressure, means causingcertain foreign matter to separate out from the refrigerating medium, and means operable automatically upon an accumulation of such foreign mat ter to permit the discharge from the trap comprising a pair of temperature responsive elements both of which are initially sub-ject to the temperature of the refrigerating medium discharged and one of which is subliect to temperature reduction due to the accumulation of the foreign matter separated out, and a valve arranged tobe operated by the one of said elements when the difference in temperatures varies to a predetermined extent.

6. A trap for removing a foreign liquid from a gaseous system under pressure comprising, means for separating the liquid from the gas within said system, valve-controlled means for discharging the collected liquid from the system, and means responsive to a predetermined temperature difference between said gas and the liquid collected for opening and closing said valve.

7. A. trap for removing foreign matter.

from the refrigerant in a refrigeration system comprising, in combiation, a casing pro-` viding a chamber in communication with said system so as to receive a mixture of reing for said foreign matter, and means reroo -sponsive to a decrease in the temperature of said foreign matter for operating said valve.

8. The method of removing a foreign liquid from a gaseous refrigerant in a refri geration system which consists in separating the liquid from the gaseous refrigerant, collecting the liquid and effecting a cooling thereof, and discharging the liquid from the system under the control of the temperature difference between the liquid collected and the gaseous refrigerant.

9. The method of remo-ving a foreign matter from a gaseous system which consists in separating the foreign matter from the gas, collecting the foreign matter and effecting a cooling thereof, and discharging theforeign matter under the control of its own temperature.

10. ln a refrigeration system, the combination with a pipe line conveying a gaseous refrigerant, of a trap interposed in the pipe line and adapted to efl'ect a separation of oil from the refrigerant, and means automatically operable to discharge the oil from the trap, the means for effecting the discharge of oil comprising a pair of opposed temperature responsive elements and a disch arge valve operatively associated with said elements, both of said elements being initially subject to the temperature of the refrigerant and one of said elements being exposed to the refrigerant to a gradually decreasing degree as the foreign matter accumulates, the arrangement being such that the difference in temperatures produced causes the operation of said valve.

11. A trap for refrigeration systems having an inlet adapted to communicate with the discharged side of a compressor and an outlet adapted to communicate with a condenser, said trap being adapted to effect the separation of foreign matter from the refrigerant, means providing two temperature responsive pressure chambers in the trap, one of said chambers being at all timcs subject tothe temperature of the refrigerant the refrigerant, means providing two tem.

tion of foreign matter in the trap, avalve for controlling the discharge of foreign matter from the trap, and means including a lever connecting said valve with each of said elements whereby when the difference in temperatures between the two elements reaches a predetermined point the valve will be opened.

13. A trap for refrigeration systems having an inlet and adapted to segregate foreign matter from the refrigerant, means providing a temperature responsive element in the trap exposed to the temperature of the fluid entering the trap through said inlet to a gradually decreasing degree by the collection .of oil in the trap, and a valve operatively connected with said element for controlling the discharge of oil from the trap upon a reduction in the temperature of said element to a predetermined point.

14. A trap for refrigeration systems adapted to segregate foreign matter from the refrigerant, means providing two temperature responsive elements in the trap, one of said elements being at all times subject to the temperature of the refrigerant as it iS discharged and the. other one of said elements being exposed to such temperature to a gradually decreasing degree by the collection of foreign matter in thetrap, a valve for controlling the discharge of foreign matter from the trap, means including a lever connecting said valve with each of said elements whereby when the difference .in temperatures between the two elements reaches a predetermined point the valve V will be as it is discharged'a-nd the other one of said chambers being exposed to such temperature to a gradually decreasing degree by the collection of foreign matter in the trap, and a valve for controlling the discharge of oil from the trap, said valve-being operatively associated with said pressure chambers so as to be operable thereby when the difference in pressures in the two chambers reaches a predetermined point.

12. A trap for refrigeration systems adapted to segregate foreign matter froml opened, and adjustable means for determining the temperature difference effecting the operation of the valve.

15. A trap having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid eontainmg an element to be separated out by gravity. means in the trap for effecting the separation of such element, a pair of temperature responsive elements one of which -is at all times exposed to the temperatureof the fluid discharged into the trap and theother one of which is exposed to a gradually decreasing degree to the'temperature of such fluid by reason of the accumulation of the separated element, and means operatively associated with said elements and adapted to effect the discharge. of the separated matter when the temperature difference between the two elements reaches a predetermined point.

16. The combination of a trap having an inlet and an outlet for'a fluid containing discharging the fluid into the trap at a high and Substantially constant temperature, means for effecting a separation of said matter from the fluid, and thermo-responsive means automatically operable upon an accumulation of suchmatterto effect its discharge from the trap.

17. A trap having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid containing matter to be separated therefrom, means for discharging the fluid into the trap at a high and substantially constant temperature, means for effecting a separation of said matter from the fluid, and means automatically operable upon an accumulation of such matter to effect its discharge from the trap comprising a pair of chambers each containing a volatile element, both of said chambers being initially subject to the temperature of the heated fluid and one of said elements being adapted to be surrounded by the separated matter to a gradually increasing extent so as to expose it to the temperature of the heated fluid to a gradually decreasing extent as the matter accumulates, and means operable when the temperature difference between the chambers reaches a predetermined' point to effect the discharge of the separated matter.

1S. A trap adapted to receive a fluid at relatively high temperature and contain ing matter .to be separated therefrom, means providing a pair of opposed temperature responsive pressure elements, one of said elements being maintained at a temperature substantially equal to the temperature of the fluid and the other one of said ele# ments being subject to the gradually lowering temperature of the separated matter, and means operatively associated with said elements and operable when the temperature difference between said elements reaches a predetermined point to efl'ect the release of the separated matter.v A 1 19. The combination with a source of supply of a heated element in fluid form, of a trap into which` said element is adapted to discharge and to accumulate, a temperature responsive device subject t'o the gradually decreasing temperature of said element,

. and means operable upon the accumulation of a predetermined volume of such element in the trap to effect its discharge therefrom. 20. Tlfe combination with a source of supply of a heated element .in fluid form, of a trap adapted to receive said element for accumulation, a temperature responsivel device subject to the gradually lowering temperature'of said element as it `accumulates, discharge means including a valve,

v and means for exerting a substantially constant opposing force upon said valve Whereby to open it as Vthe pressure upon said devieefalls due tothe accumulation of said element.

21. The combination with a source of supply of a heated element Iin fluid form, of a trap adapted to receive said element for accumulation, a pair of pressure chambers in said trap each containing a volatile element, a lever operatively associated with each chamber, and a valve connected With said levers, the arrangement being such that as the element accumulates in the trap it effects a gradually lowering temperature of one of said pressure chambers whereby to permit the pressure in the other chamber to open the valve.

22. The combination with a source of Supply of a heated element ,in fluid form, of a trap adapted to receive said element for accumulation, a pair of pressureA champ bers in said trapeach containing a volatile element, a lever operatively associated With each chamber, and a valve connected With said levers, the arrangement being such that as the element accumulates in the trap it,

cools and gradually lowers the temperature of one of said pressure chambers whereby to permit the pressure in the other chamber to open the valve, one of said levers having adjustable means for varying the point at which said valve is opened.

23. ln a refrigeration system, the combination of means providing a main chamber 'adapted to receive thev refrigerant under pressure, a pair of temperature-responsive pressure chambers projecting into the opposite ends of said main chamber, one of said pressure chambers roviding with 'the outer Wall of the main c amber an annular trough and the other one of said pressure chambers providing a Wall against which the refrigerant is adapted-to discharge to effect the separation out of oil and other foreign matter and to cause it to accumulate in said trough, and valved means operatively associated-With said pressure chambers so4 as to permit the discharge of accumulated matter from the main chamber when a predetermined quantity of such matter has accumulated in said trough.

24. A traphaving in combination Witli' a source of supply of heated fluid, a tem' perature-responsive.pressure chamber, means adapted to collect such fluid and to edect a lll) f gradually lowering temperature' in said chamber, and means operating vvvhenfa predetermined, temperature reduction in said chamber is reached to effect the discharge of the fluid from the trap. Y

`25. A trap having in combination with a source of supply of heated fluid, a pair of temperature responsive pressure chambers both of which are initially subject to the temperature of the fluid and one which is adapted to be exposed to a gradually decreasing extent by the accumulation of such fluid i in the trap, a discharge valve for the trap, a lever connected .with each of said pressure chambers so as to be movable thereby and also connected with said valve, the arrangement being such that normally said pressure chambers are balanced against each other but when a predetermined difference b`etween the two chambers is reached owing to the accumulation ofv such liuid,the valve is operated to permit the discharge of the fluid from the trap.

26. A trap having a main chamber having .heads at upper and lower ends with portions projecting into the main chamber, said heads each containing a volatile element and including a movable wall, the main chamber having communication with a source ot' heated fluid and said head portion being subject .to the temperature of said fluid, the arrangement being such that the fluid accumulating in the trap ell'ects a gradual lowering in Jthe temperature in one of said chambers, a discharge valve -for the trap,

Said fluid, the arrangement being such that the fluid accumulating in the trap cools slowly and thereby effects a gradual lowering in the temperature in one of said chambers, a 'discharge valve for the trap, and means connecting the movable walls of said pressure chambers to said valve comprising a lever ulcrumed on each head and having a pressure member bearing againstthe movable wall of the corresponding pressure chamber, and means pivotally connected to said levers and arranged -to operate said valve.

28. A trap comprising a main chamber having heads at the upper and lower ends with portions projecting intothe main chamber, said heads each containing a volatile element Aand including a movable wall, Athe main chamber having communication With a source of heated fluid and said head porti ons being subject to the temperature of said fluid, the arrangement being such that the fluid accun'mlating in the trap effects a gradual lowering in the I'temperature .in one ot said chambers, a discharge valve for the t ap, and means connecting the movable walls of said pressure chambersto said valve comprising a lever fulcrumed on each head and having a pressure member bearing against the movable wall of the corresponding pressure chamber, and means pivotally connected to said levers and arranged to operate said valve, one of said levers hav- 

